Summer has become that time of the year that networks do trials on shows and see if they work. It works because there is not quite the long list of shows to compete against so it’s easier to find success. The only thing that new shows have to compete against is the fact that it’s summer so it’s short and usually people go on vacations during this time.

USA Network and TNT have used this time to really dominate the TV ratings as they seem to premiere high quality shows during the summer that have people talking and anxiously waiting for their return. This year, the main networks are trying out their hand at trying to capture that summer TV show gold as they will be releasing new shows to see what sticks.

What show are you excited to see this summer?

#5: Extant (CBS)cbs.com

#5: Extant (CBS)

From producer Steven Spielberg, Halle Berry stars as an astronaut who returns back home after being in space for 13 months. But she comes home with a little parting gift. She seems to be pregnant with something, but we have no idea how she got pregnant.

While this show screams ET (especially with Spielberg involved) it looks like it’s going to deal with a lot of different elements, perhaps some fantasy, but defiantly drama and mystery. The show is currently a mini-series but if the show turns out well we could see a season 2.

#4: Rush (USA Network)

The show follows hard-paryting doctor William Rush who is a doctor in Los Angeles who works with celebrity clients that do not so innocent things.

The show looks a lot like another USA Network show, Royal Pains, but it looks like it will focus more on the drama then the comedy. While I’m sure it’s going to have some lighter moments, it looks like this show will delve into darker themes as the lead is certainly not your typical doctor.

#2: The Night Shift (NBC)

In this show, we follow a pair of doctors who used to date but broke up because he broke up with her. When they meet again, she sees that he has a lot of issues that he needs to work through and she tries to help him through it.

The show looks a lot like Grey’s Anatomy but instead of focusing on many couples, it looks like it’s just going to be just one main couple. NBC is really trying to get back to where it was in the early 2000s when it dominated TV but they have a long way to go to catch up to ABC.

#1: Murder in the First Degree (TNT)

In this show, we follow two detectives work a case from the start of the first murder all the way to the end of the trial.

In this first season, it looks like Tom Felton is going to be the bad guy. Felton has proved that he can be sinister and be the ‘bad boy’ before (see Harry Potter films) and it’s going to be very exciting to see him portray a possible serial killer. The concept of the show is very interesting as we kind of get a fast forward version of this on Law and Order but it will be interesting to see it in more depth.